Rangers take a flier on beleaguered ex-Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard

Photo by:

By:

Bard has agreed to a minor league deal with the Rangers, according to multiple reports, marking the 28-year-old right-hander's latest attempt to resurrect his promising career. Once regarded as the Red Sox' closer in waiting, Bard's troubles began in 2012 when he transitioned into a starting role. Since the beginning of that season, he has notched a 6.27 ERA, allowed 61 hits and 45 walks and hit eight batters in only 60-1/3 innings in the majors while falling as far as the rookie-level Gulf Coast League and being designated for assignment last August.

For the Rangers, though, Bard represents the classic low-risk, high-reward option. After all, he once was a dominant setup man, posting a 2.88 ERA and 213 strikeouts in 197 innings for the Red Sox from 2009-11. As the primary lead-in to closer Jonathan Papelbon, he recorded a 1.93 ERA in 2010 and tossed 26-1/3 scoreless innings over a two-month span in 2011.

Bard spent most of last season in the minors, returning to the bullpen but never solving the frightening control problems that cropped up in 2012. In only 15-1/3 innings, he walked 27 batters and threw 11 wild pitches, prompting the Red Sox to finally cut ties with him. The Cubs, led by former Sox GM Theo Epstein and assistant GM Jed Hoyer, claimed Bard off waivers but opted not to tender him a contract after a dreadful showing in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com was first to report Bard's deal with the Rangers.